The 68-year-old is still basking in the glow of yesterday’s glorious 3-2 win against the world champions which he acknowledged as the finest display of his international reign.

But he also surprisingly chose his post-match briefing to hit back at what he believes is an unfair perception of him.

Asked after England’s swashbuckling comeback from 2-0 down in Berlin if he was now less conservative in his approach, Hodgson was keen to get something off his chest.

“Unfortunately, and I don’t know when I got it, but I was given an epithet at one stage and that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” said Hodgson.

“I don’t have it in Switzerland, I don’t have it in Italy, that I am conservative in some way.

“I believe that is what is said. It’s not true and I have never felt that way.

“I have worked for one or two teams where we have been nowhere near as good as the opposition and we have been on the back foot and have had to work for results.

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“I don’t need to prove anyone wrong”

Roy Hodgson

“But whenever I have the team to take control and take the initiative, then all of my teams have done that.

“I am not a model of consistency in 40 years, but there have not been many ups and downs or twists and turns.

“I believe you can only win seriously if you can take the game to the opposition and it is very hard to win if you are on the back foot all the time and try to nick a goal.

“I would be disappointed if people dismiss this win and say Germany were not up for it because we were very close to their bench and their players and they found it difficult to deal with our pressing in the first half.

“That gives us encouragement. We want to keep going like that with this team.”

Hodgson has faced criticism throughout his 48 games in charge that he is not bold enough with either his selections or tactics.

Former England captain Gary Lineker accused him of taking “a step back to the dark ages” after a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland two years ago.

While Jose Mourinho was equally scathing in his assessment of England during the 2014 World Cup, when they crashed out following losses to Italy and Uruguay and a dismal goalless draw with Costa Rica.

Even Wales boss Chris Coleman said last week that England hold few surprises ahead of their June 16 clash in the group stage.

But last night’s morale boosting win in Berlin thanks to second half goals from Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Eric Dier could force a rethink among England’s rivals.

It should at least give Coleman an extra incentive to rush back from Wales’ friendly in Ukraine tomorrow night to be at Wembley on Tuesday for England’s game with Holland.

But while Hodgson would like nothing more than to mastermind the end England’s 50-year wait for a tournament win, he insists he is not motivated by proving people wrong.

“I don’t need to prove anyone wrong,” he said.

“I can’t disprove what people say or think and I can only do my work and only hope that the work I do will give some sort of reward and success and then they can have their opinions.

“It has never bothered me. I don’t think I should do something different.”

Hodgson insists yesterday’s win was not just down to an adventurous approach from the players.

“I don’t think it is purely the fearlessness of youth,” he said. “I think in our approach to working with these players, we have also been quite fearless.

“We’ve also said we are backing you on this, this is how we want you to play, this is what we want you to do.

“I am prepared, and also my coaching staff are prepared, that we will take the responsibility, if it goes wrong, and you try to play, and the ball gets nicked off you, and they score a goal, people are going to batter you.

“We’re going to be the first ones standing up to say: ‘This is what we told him to do, so don’t have a go at him. This is what we want to do.’

“This is the message we have been putting across for a long period of time.

“We have also been lucky that some players have come into the team who seem to flourish with that confidence being given to them, and that freedom being given to them - that freedom to make mistakes.”